Chapter 32 – The Thirty-Second Ray of Light

When shopping, women like to stroll from one end of the street to the other, while men prefer to linger in stores, keeping an eye on specific spots. Both take time and money; other than a curved line versus a straight one, there’s essentially no difference.

Thus, Si Nuocheng and the others took their time shopping leisurely. Meanwhile, the police officers sent to find them arrived at the hotel in the morning, only to come up empty. They learned from the front desk that the group hadn’t checked out, so they continued waiting.

They could have just called or sent a text, requesting that the individuals come to the station for a statement. However, the higher-ups had given direct orders: they had to personally “invite” them.

“It’s just cooperating with the police, not apprehending fugitives. Is there a problem with notifying them in advance?” a new officer wondered aloud. “But here we are, one team searching, another screening surveillance footage. This setup looks like we’re hunting murderers.”

A senior officer chuckled: “Don’t ask too many questions, kid. Just follow orders. The higher-ups have their reasons.”

It was likely classified information. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have been so overly cautious. Perhaps the higher-ups weren’t as interested in the witnesses as they were in someone else.

However, with insufficient information, the team could only probe the edges of the truth, too wary to push further. They seemed like they were afraid of stirring something up, taking great care in their actions.

“But how can we get intel and evidence without asking enough questions? Do we just rely on intuition?” the newbie retorted.

The senior officer was speechless in the face of this question.

Time flew by, and soon it was afternoon. The team waiting at the hotel hadn’t found their targets, but the team tracking down the surveillance footage in the mall had completed their task.

They first found Jiang Qining, who was enjoying his shopping. Plainclothes officers immediately formed groups, enthusiastically approaching their target like old friends.

“Hey, Jiang, long time no see!” an older officer grinned, approaching. Seeing Jiang Qining’s puzzled look, he flashed his badge, “How’s your dad doing? Haha, why don’t you go catch up with Uncle Zhang outside?”

Police officers were generally mindful of maintaining a suspect’s dignity. They didn’t want to take someone to the station where they’d be pointed at when they left. Especially when it came to people who were merely “invited.”

The officer clapped Jiang Qining’s shoulder warmly, signaling: “Come with me. I’m giving you face here. If you don’t get it, I’ll have to arrest you right now.”

Jiang Qining forced a smile, gritting his teeth to speak, “Alright, Uncle Zhang…”

One down. Soon after, Laki, who had been browsing paranormal books in the bookstore, was approached by “Uncle Li.” Si Nuocheng, still lingering in the knife shop, was greeted by “Uncle Zheng.” But Ji Si stood in front of two or three officers who completely ignored his presence.

“Si Nuocheng, Uncle Zheng wants to take you out for a meal, catch up with you. How’s your dad been? Hahaha!” Uncle Zheng patted Si Nuocheng’s shoulder, not missing the subtle surprise on his face.

Following Si Nuocheng’s gaze, Uncle Zheng saw Ji Si smiling brightly at them. But instead of acknowledging Ji Si, his eyes drifted to a display case full of Tang swords.

“Looking at the Tang swords?”

“Yes, I like them,” Si Nuocheng responded smoothly, showing no signs of breaking his calm. He subtly extended his finger, making small circles on his pants.

His blood began to heat up, the familiar sensation of the subtle flow of energy leaking from his fingertips—this was the feeling of being in a different dimension.

Si Nuocheng retracted his hand, finally understanding what Ji Si meant when he said, “I hope they find me by their own ability.”

It turns out Ji Si didn’t refuse to collaborate with humans; he simply set a threshold before discussing cooperation. Only those who could break the century-old patterns and acknowledge the multidimensional world, who could break free from mental constraints and accept the existence of superpowers, would be considered to have passed the minimum requirement.

After that, they would need to learn to “see” and discover Ji Si with their own awakened abilities.

Once that happens, both parties would no longer be materialistic. One side would no longer have to speak at length, and many issues and contradictions would solve themselves. Conversations would take place at an equal mental level, removing much of the trouble.

No wonder…

No wonder Ji Si told them that once they were invited to the police station, they just needed to tell the truth. He wanted everyone to know of his existence, but they wouldn’t be able to find him unless they could awaken.

What a carefully planned move. Does this person’s mind work like a beehive?

Si Nuocheng stepped out of the knife shop. In an instant, he felt a “film of water” peeling off from his body, the warm sensation disappearing. He casually chatted with Uncle Zheng, but his thoughts had already drifted far away.

He hadn’t undergone any training through dreams or other methods. His only paranormal experience was an encounter with a ghost on the highway. After stepping into a different dimension once, his senses had noticeably sharpened. He was on the verge of understanding certain unclear “points.”

Perhaps his potential was higher than he had imagined?

“What are you thinking, young man? You look like you’re lost in thought,” Uncle Zheng remarked.

“I’m thinking—what to bring for dinner for the little god at home?”

The young man’s casual comment completely blocked the older officer’s materialistic thoughts.

…

After Si Nuocheng and the others were taken away, Ji Si leisurely strolled back to the hotel.

As time passed on Earth, his roots grew deeper. Once his magnetic field began to align with the Earth’s, he no longer had to worry about “overstepping and breaking the ball.”

The multidimensional universe, overlapping planes, and countless Earth-like planets—there were many like it. Yet, only this one had formed a connection with him. He had to pay attention to it, one way or another.

He wasn’t interested in the police’s follow-up; his attention was only on the abnormal celestial phenomena. Looking up, the dark gray clouds twisted together in an abstract shape, with four thin clouds at the front and a thick one at the back, forming an oddly-shaped chariot. The clouds stretched out in a long line, moving with the wind.

“Recently, tombs have been uncovered…”

Ji Si fiddled with his staff, following the direction of the clouds. “Northwest?”

Tombs uncovered from ancient times would result in strange celestial phenomena. This meant that tombs buried for centuries, once exposed to the light, could trigger abnormal heavenly signs.

Changes in cloud formations were a sign of shifts in the magnetic field. The strange phenomenon originating from the northwest but extending from the south indicated that an ancient tomb was about to be uncovered.

Based on his knowledge of humans, whenever they discovered ancient tombs, they would immediately dig them up, remove seals, and open boxes, regardless of the risks. The factors that triggered the unearthing of tombs were either a natural disaster or an accidental excavation. As for the awakening of zombies, that was also caused by human intervention.

Ji Si: …

Now was not the time for a tomb to be unearthed. The dimensional gates, magic caves, and other areas were still in slight resonance, causing cracks to slowly widen. Soon, new monsters would crawl out.

If a massive tomb was added into the mix, even the strongest defenses would collapse.

But Ji Si would never say, “Don’t unearth the tomb.” He wouldn’t even mention the word “tomb.” He only aimed to redirect humanity’s attention to other matters.

Ji Si pulled his phone from his sleeve, connected to the hotel’s Wi-Fi, and checked his neglected social media account.

Oh, it’s stuck again… He knew the backend system had crashed without even thinking.

Ignoring the millions of replies and retweets, and not caring about the attention or offers from entertainment companies, Ji Si glanced at the several million followers, clicked open the document, and typed his next prophecy: 【On the night of January 9th, the gate of the Qingdong realm will open, and monsters will go out to hunt. Avoid traveling.】

He hit send.

In less than five seconds, Ji Si saw hundreds of replies flood in. He reclined on the soft sofa, absentmindedly glancing at his desk, about to give a few instructions. Then he suddenly remembered, those people were still at the police station.

Without the noise of a few living people chattering, the room felt oddly quiet.

Ji Si suddenly understood why gods liked to keep a few children around them. The true nature of human life helped the gods remember what it was like to be human. After all, human nature and divinity were inseparable.

Feeling utterly bored, Ji Si started browsing through his social media messages. Out of curiosity, he picked a comment that caught his eye.

【You’re thinking about peaches】: “Why is it that strange things always happen at night?”

Ji Si slowly typed out his reply: “Night is chaotic, and evil thoughts breed. If not now, then when?”

After sending it, he felt a brief silence in the comments section. Then, an explosion of replies followed, including 【You’re thinking about peaches】’s excited, garbled message.

Ji Si: …

It took a while, but finally, something readable appeared in the comments: 【Ahhh! Lord Ji Si replied to me! Today, I’ll be guarding Lord Ji Si! Love you, heart!】

Ji Si: … Ji Si?

The High Priest couldn’t understand. Humans were useless at everything except creating stars, and in this age of social media, anything could be deified.

A short reply, a massive fanbase, and he was almost stunned as the “Global Ji Si Fan Club” sprang up, with a flood of gray social media accounts shining with the glow of wealthy patrons.

They all liked, replied, and pinned comments in perfect unison, making it clear that “whatever Ji Si says is right,” “listen to Ji Si Daddy, you won’t go wrong,” and “Ji Si Daddy’s social media is a life-saver.”

Efficient, earnest, and rapid promotion—it had turned Ji Si into the leader of a new-century cult.

Ji Si: …

He silently set the phone down, realizing he needed to reassess Earthlings. So, they were this obedient and rational?

The High Priest fell into deep thought.

…

At the police station, the three were questioned separately and gave identical answers: they were friends, and after meeting at a café, they were attacked by a ghost while driving on a rural road. They thought they would die right there, but a “high-level expert” appeared and helped them defeat the ghost.

Their descriptions of this expert were also remarkably similar: a tall man, dressed in white robes, black hair, holding a large staff, and called “Priest.”

Priest…

This matched the intel provided by the higher-ups. But there were still details they needed to verify.

One officer asked, “Mr. Si, according to our investigation, you’re staying at the Qing Ding Hotel. Why didn’t you go back to your hotel after leaving the café? Why did you follow your friends’ car instead?”

Si Nuocheng replied calmly: “My friend Ji Si asked me to follow them and stay at his place if needed.”

He didn’t shy away from mentioning Ji Si’s name.

“Didn’t you book a hotel?”

“I’m not short of money for one night’s stay.”

“…” Damn rich people! The most luxurious suite at Qing Ding costs five figures per night, and you’re not concerned about money, but I am!

Another officer asked, “Mr. Si, we know about your friend Ji Si. And—”

“We checked the information you left at the hotel and the café staff’s description. Your friend ‘Ji Si’ shares meals and a room with you. Their description of him matches what you’ve said about the ‘expert.’ Are they the same person?”

Si Nuocheng answered seriously: “Yes!”

The officers’ expressions shifted slightly. One officer asked cautiously, “If you don’t mind me asking, what is your relationship with him?”

Si Nuocheng countered: “…We’re both men. What kind of relationship do you think we have?”

Si Nuocheng instinctively focused on the question, thinking, What kind of relationship could two men have? Why is this officer asking such a strange question?

Little did he know, this straightforward answer gave the officers plenty of room for imagination. They exchanged looks and, remembering the white robe and wig found in Jiang Qining’s shopping bag, began to suspect they had encountered a certain… fashionable group?

This was a lot of information to digest, but they decided to make one last confirmation.

Another officer asked, “So, do you sleep with this Ji Si?”

Si Nuocheng: “Hmm? What about it?” He didn’t think twice.

Oh, nothing. But with all these questions, the officers began to suspect that a powerful “expert” capable of defeating ghosts didn’t seem like someone who’d want to stay with a rich person.

But you, on the other hand, could spend money to get your boyfriend to wear a white robe, put on a wig, and carry a big staff, all to show your “taste.” Tsk, today’s rich people!

“Mr. Si, if possible, could you have your friend Ji Si come to the police station for a statement?”

“You can go find him yourself. I can’t ask him to come.”

“…” Professional fake smile. “Alright, we’ll go to him.”

And just like that, the three left the police station without further incident. The young officer handed over the statement, and after reading it, the senior officer squinted and said, “Follow them, but don’t alarm them.”

“Eh?”

“Otherwise, do you really think we sent you to take statements from a bunch of business people?” The senior officer said with confidence. “They’ll open up more if they’re around people their age.”

“There’s something strange going on, we just don’t know who the ghost is yet.”

Old-timer Jiang knew his stuff, and the senior officer suspected that there was more to these young people than met the eye. Given all the coincidences, it didn’t seem like random chance.

As he reviewed Si Nuocheng’s recent travel route—from Sichuan to Qingdong, then to Jing Du Port, to Ningyuan Mountains, and now to Hulu Port—it seemed like trouble followed him everywhere.

Asking if “Ji Si” was the Priest, Si Nuocheng’s confident “yes” left no room for doubt. But for the police, it was crucial to verify the correct person.

This was a game of chess, and if they lost, they’d be negotiating with someone.

“I need someone who won’t raise suspicion, but is still one of ours…” The senior officer stroked his chin, deep in thought. Then a lightbulb went off in his head. He remembered the young man they had seen on the ruins road.

He grabbed the phone and dialed: “Hello, Professor Zou?”

“Yes, I need to borrow someone.”

“Qi Xinli.” The senior officer smiled. “The guy’s smart, educated, handsome, and has a clean background. He even studied psychology. I’ve checked, and his parents were police officers who’ve done great work.”

“Mm-hm. I have a special task for him. Let me talk to him in person.”

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PS:

Qi Xinli: On the first day of being a spy, I thought they were all idiots.
On the second day, I thought I was the idiot.
On the third day, sorry, organization, I’ve defected…

PS:

Ji Si: New recruit, what do you know?

Qi Xinli: Chanting sutras.

Ji Si: Good, your mission is to exorcise the zombies.

Qi Xinli: … I think you want me dead.